How is it that you, a law student, were assigned to a hospital?

When I was drafted, the Army assigned me an MOS (job title) of Operating Room Specialist. I do not know exactly what criteria they used, but I suspect it had to do with education and the testing that was given to us. Some with higher education were assigned to tanks or infantry so sometimes there did not appear to be logic to these assignments..... Luck of the draw. As I hadcompleted my first year of law school, I felt I would be assigned to be a law clerk in JAG, but it was not to be.

Did you, in fact, have any medical training prior to being sent to Vietnam?

No, I did not. After Basic Training in Ft. Polk, La. I was sent to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio for Medic Training, and then to Ft. Sill in Okla. for Operating Room training. The training wasextensive.

AUSTIN, Texas --A new, $1-million state initiative is seeking to bolster mental health programs for military veterans.Announced jointly Monday by Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus, the Texas Veterans Initiative is funded by the Health and Human Services Commission.It will match local and private funds committed to expanding and evaluating community-based mental health programs for veterans and their relatives.Perry, Dewhurst and Straus said in a statement that the funding "will focus on regional collaborations that address severe mental health needs that are not currently met, as prioritized by each community."The pilot program will award funding through a competitive process, with decisions on successful proposals coming before March 1.If the pilot succeeds, the Legislature could approve a more-permanent initiative next year.Copyright The Associated Press

On this Veterans Day Tuesday, November 11, 2014, we salute and thank all of our former and current military members for all that they have sacrificed and still do for our country. Without these brave men and women we would not be allowed the freedoms that we often take for granted. So today give thanks to a Veteran that you know and never forget all that these men and women do and have done for you, your family, and this country.

A Note From the Author:"Today is a very special day, both for our veterans and for America. For our veterans it is an opportunity for our country to say "Thank You." For our country it is an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers in order to protect our liberties and way of life." -Richard Pena

Author

Christiane CallowayAttended the University of Texas at Austin where she majored in Advertising. She is currently the Marketing Director for the Law Offices of Richard Pena and the book Last Plane Out of Saigon.